Call Number:

TC038

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

• 14 boxes
• 7.20 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Reginald Lawrence Papers, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1939-1967 (inclusive)

Creator:

Lawrence, Reginald, 1900-1967

Form:

Correspondence and Typescripts.

Abstract:

The Reginald Lawrence Papers consists primarily of typescripts of plays Lawrence (Princeton Class of 1921) wrote for theater, film, and television, as well as short stories, poetry, outlines and notes for various projects, some letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Reginald Lawrence started as one of Broadway's thesis playwrights in the 1930s with Men Must Fight and If This Be Treason. His last appearance on the billboards was as co-author of the book of Cole Porter's musical Out of This World. Between these periods he was represented in New York by Feathers in a Gale, and in London by Hervey House, written with Jane Cowl, staged by Tyrone Guthrie and starring Gertrude Lawrence (no relation). During his career he adapted or collaborated on plays with Laurette Taylor, John Golden, Constance Bennett, Richard Aldrich, Robert Joseph, and Saint Subber, among others. He was a "play doctor" for many years in New York (on What a Life!, A Thousand Summers, Camille, etc.) for various producers. In addition to several years spent as professor of drama at Fordham, Colorado College, and the University of Southern California, Mr. Lawrence was represented on most of the live dramatic television shows before they went west, including Suspense, on which Legend of Lizzie was first presented in 1953.

1920 Founder, Theatre Intime, Princeton University. 1924-1926 Actor with Boston Stage Society, semi-pro group. Also director. 1932 (October) First play: Men Must Fight (with S. K. Lauren), Lyceum Theatre, New York. (MGM picture, 1933. Published by Samuel French) 1934 Tryout Theatre: Sweet Bells Jangled, played in Washington, Philadelphia, Boston. Written with Jane Cowl, and Miss Cowl starred. No New York production. 1935 (September) If This Be Treason (with John Haynes Holmes), Theatre Guild of NY. (Published by Macmillan Co.) 1935 (August) Hervey House (with Jane Cowl), H. M. Tennant, His Majesty's Theatre, London. Gertrude Lawrence, star. 1936 Radio Plays for Lux Radio Theatre. 1939 (August) We Three, Bass Rocks Summer Theatre, with Orson Welles Mercury Theatre Company. Tryout. Also director of this season. 1943 Feathers in a Gale (with Pauline Jamerson), Music Box Theatre, NY. Arthur Hopkins, producer and director. (Published Chicago Dramatic Pub. Co.) 1946 Dream of Fair Women, Theatre Guild tryout at Westport, Conn., summer theater, with Donald Cook and Clarence Derwent. 1946-1947 Instructor at Fordham University, New York, and with the American Theatre Wing Professional School in New York, following Dr. Kenneth Rowe. 1947-1948 (summers) Lectured at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, also produced major play. 1947 (September) - 1949 (February) Assistant Professor of Drama at U.S.C. under William C. de Mille. 1948 (December) Delegate to Speech Assn. and A.E.T.A. conference in Washington, D.C. Playwriting Committee.

Consists primarily of typescripts of plays Lawrence (Princeton Class of 1921) wrote for theater, film, and television, as well as short stories, poetry, outlines and notes for various projects, some letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Included are a typescript and miscellaneous material for the Cole Porter musical Out of This World, the book of which Lawrence co-authored.

Arranged alphabetically by title.